The Newcastle United striker has made the headlines for the wrong reasons this week after being involved in an early-hours fracas outside a Cardiff nightclub.

The Bellamy incident is being investigated by the Crown Prosecution Service.

But Newcastle team-mate Speed has backed the 23-year-old star to turn on the style against the Azeri at the Millennium Stadium.

"Craig won't let this week's events affect him if he plays, I've got no doubts about that," said Speed yesterday.

"He's one of the best professionals I've worked with. He loves football and the place he feels most comfortable is on the football pitch.

"He's up for this match but, then again, he's always up for matches.

"I'm sure there won't be a problem with Craig if he does play against Azerbaijan."

Hughes has to weigh up whether Bellamy is right to face the Azeri before putting his name on the team-sheet.

Cardiff City's in-form striker Robert Earnshaw is waiting in the wings, but yesterday the Wales manager hinted the quicksilver Magpie will start against the men from the Caspian Sea.

"Players are frightened of Craig because of his pace and his hard work," added Speed.

"He's had so many injuries,

"The expectation is there because we've done well in the last 10 games and we've got to deal with that," continued the man who will win his 73rd cap against Azerbaijan.

"If we can't deal with the expectancy then we're not going `to achieve anything but I think we'll be OK."

Recalling the 2-0 win over Azerbaijan in Baku last November, a match that saw Speed score his fifth goal for his country, he said, "That was a fantastic result for us. Azerbaijan got a great result in their last game (a 2-2 draw against Serbia-Montenegro in Belgrade) and they won't be a pushover. We have to be right on the night if we are to get another three points." but he's come back and got better and better. That's down to hard work and you've got to give Craig credit for that.

"He gets booed at some of the grounds but that only makes him play even better.

"You've got to take getting booed as a compliment. Opposition fans hate him. The reason Craig gets that reaction is because he's such a great player."

Wales have bagged maximum points from their first three qualifying games and are hoping to preserve their winning record in Group Nine against the Azeri, who are bottom of the group.

This match against the minnows of the group was a 74,000 sell-out last December and Speed knows the Welsh public are expecting Sparky's men to deliver a fourth successive win.

IN THE THICK OF IT: Craig squares up to Juan Sebastian Veron for Wales, above, and tussles for the ball with Everton manager David Moyes, below right, but his value as an attacker was never better demonstrated than when he rounded the goalkeeper, below left, to score Wales' winner against Italy in October Main Picture: Empics